thinking out loud

In class we discussed subtext, appeal and target market.  While watching television over the next few days, select a commercial to de-construct. To de-construct means to look at the commercial critically and analyze the components that make up the message. Tell us what commercial you selected and identify the subtext, the persuasion techniques (appeal) and the target market. Also include if the claim is fact or opinion and why. Note: Check the blog first before posting your commercial so we have no duplicates. You may not post a commercial that someone else has already de-constructed.

Think of all the media that you use or interact with every day.  Which is the most important to you and why?

In the video today, an explanation was given of “media literacy.”  In essence, media literacy is not about turning off the tv.  Media literacy is “about helping students become competent, critical and literate…so that they control the interpretation of what they see or hear rather than letting the interpretation control them.” (Center for Media Literacy, 2003).

In three to five thoughtful sentences, please comment on one (or both) of these statements from the video:

• “Teaching and entertaining have become inseperable.” 
• “Students expect real life to imitate television.”

Give examples or reasons to support your opinion.

What is your dream job?

In addition to skills and aptitude, your values will factor into your career choice.  Using the career packet, narrow down your values and  share the three values that are the most important to you.

In class you received many definitions of success. Is there any defintion that you agree with? Which definition is it and why do you agree with it? Do you have your own definition of success? How do you define success?

Mindwalk your primaries?? No, I am not talking about the primary elections. I am talking sources….as in…primary sources. The Library of Congress has a very interesting activity involving primary sources, but not the primary sources you are consulting for History Day. No indeedy…these primary sources involve you and your daily life.

1. Mind walk (think about) all the activities you were involved in during the past 24 hours. List as many of these activities as you can remember.

2. For each activity, write down what evidence, if any, your activities might have left behind. Example: movie ticket stubs, phone records, music downloads (but try not to think too electronically), trash you have thrown away, diaries, calendar entries, school records, your locker (yikes!!) Could anyone offer testimony or oral history about your activities? Who would they be and why would they be able to do so?

3. Review your list and what you wrote about the evidence your activities left behind. Then answer these questions on the blog:

• Which of your daily activities were most likely to leave trace evidence behind?
• What, if any, of that evidence might be preserved for the future? Why?
• What might be left out of an historical record of your activites? Why?
• Based on your experiences, think about the historical record (primary sources) that you are researching. How can the historical record be huge and limited at the same time?
• What would future historians or archaeologists be able to tell about your life and your society based on evidence of your daily activities that might be preserved for the future? What could they conclude or infer about not only your life but your family, community, region and country?

So…it’s now the year 2108….what does the future know about you? Use examples of primary sources (what physical materials give evidence of your life) in your life in your answer.

In class we discussed that opposition from books can be placed in specific categories, each with their own reasons to object to books. One of the categories is religion, where some people oppose books that they believe question God or attack religious faith. There is currently a controversy concering Philip Pullman’s book, The Golden Compass, the first book in His Dark Materials trilogy.

The Catholic League of for Religious and Civil Rights believes these books are anti-Catholic and that the book was written “to promote atheism and denigrate Christianity.” The book was published in 1996 but is only now drawing the ire of the Catholic League because of the movie debut of The Golden Compass next month. They are concerned that once children see the movie, they will want to read the book, and thereby be exposed to what they see as an attack on the faith. This angle is reportedly missing from the movie. Here are some links to the Catholic League: “Now Availble: Video ” and “Scholastic Pressed – No More Ventures With Pullman” The Catholic League has published a phamphlet that explains their point of view.

Pullman is an atheist or an agnostic, depending, he said, on how he looks at the world around him. He has stated that he is against organized religion because organized religion tends to misuse its power. He gives the Taliban and the Inquisition as examples. His book is a fantasy with theological underpinings. He has stated that he is not anti-catholic: Pullman Not Promoting Atheism. You might also want to check out his official web site.

Consider the position of the Catholic League and parents who want to make sure that their children are not exposed to anything that goes against their beliefs and who may believe the books are harmful. Sr. Rose Pacatte offers excellent advice to parents on how to address this question.

Should children have the right to read anything they need in order to attain intellectual maturity? Is this pamphlet by the Catholic League advising parents not to let their children read this book bringing back the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (The Index of Forbidden Books)? Recall our lesson on the history of censorship whereby the Roman Catholic Church maintained for centuries a list of published works that they considered objectionable and which Catholics were forbidden to read. Have you read the trilogy or the first book? Do you think Pullman has an agenda? Does the Catholic League have an agenda? Do you consider the books to be against all organized religions (Pullman’s word) or against the Catholic Church specifically (the Catholic League)? Is it possible that the theological references in the book may be overlooked by most young readers who are intently following Lyra’s quest? If one’s faith is strongly rooted, is there a possibility that reading these books could destroy one’s belief in God?

Today in class we learned about the motives that cause people to censor. Some of the motives are based on fear of pluralism and ideas different from their own. We also learned that one of the benefits of the First Amendment is that people make better choices when they can choose freely among different ideas. When someone objects to a book or an idea, is it fair to call them censors?